Dana Point is SoCal’s hidden gem

Midway between Los Angeles and San Diego is a beach town so special you should use it as your base for exploring Southern California. In fact, you may not want to leave, because Dana Point is SoCal’s hidden gem. Beautiful, uncrowded beaches, luxury resorts and golf links, a harbor for countless water activities – and we’re only getting started.

Last century, when affluent Californians from Los Angeles began to seek summer relief from the heat and congestion of the city, they bought cottages along the coast. These retreats of the rich and famous became the boating haven of Newport Beach and art colony of Laguna Beach. Meanwhile, the Beach Boys were singing about a new culture of surfing and the gnarly waves from Huntington Beach to San Clemente. President Nixon was ensconced in his compound in San Onofre.

Right in the middle of this golden coast sat the tiny enclave of Dana Point. In 1840, Richard Henry Dana wrote Two Years Before the Mast about his time on the merchant ship, Pilgrim. He called this area “the most romantic spot in California.” Well, he was about 200 years ahead of his time. Today, it is usually reached by car as the best road trip destination in Southern California.

Do you want nearly perfect weather?

How about 300 days of sunshine per year, with average winter temperatures in the mid-60s and summer in the mid-70s? It is little wonder that people from Arizona to Nevada to Oregon and Washington have second homes in this town, escaping the heat or rain. One rarely has to worry about outdoor plans being affected by inclement weather. In fact, there is little chance of rain from May to October.

Do you want amazing beaches?

“If everybody had an ocean across the USA, then everybody’d be surfin’ like Californi-a.” Dana Point is home to some of the best surf beaches, including Capistrano Beach, Doheny, the Strand, and our favorite, Salt Creek Beach. But these beaches are exceptional for walking, jogging, sunning, and picnicking as well. And for the tamest family option, Baby Beach, at the Dana Point Harbor, answers the call.

Salt Creek Beach checks all the boxes for year-round beach life. Just off the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), with ample parking, this expansive beach is easy to reach. It sits below a large grassy park, where families gather to watch the surfers, barbeque at picnic tables, and play everything from frisbee to informal volleyball. A snack bar called Zack’s and outdoor showers are among other amenities.

Salt Creek Beach sits at the base of two world-class resorts; but more about that later. It also is the trailhead of a 7-mile paved loop frequented by hikers and bikers. For us, it is the perfect dog-walking path, with ocean, nature, and golf course views. If long strolls on the sand looking up at multi-million-dollar mansions is your thing, the walk from the north end of Salt Creek Beach to the point at the south end of adjacent Dana Strands Beach is nearly two miles of upscale on a budget!

Do you want to go kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, fishing?

Dana Point has the only true harbor along Orange County’s coastline. That makes it the king of water activities. Already home to more than 2,500 boats, this beautiful harbor is undergoing a $330 million revitalization. The calm waters of the channels make kayaking and paddleboarding popular, even for beginners.

For the more adventurous, there is jet skiing. Both private and group fishing charters leave the harbor for the open seas and a chance to hook yellowtail and bluefin tuna, among many catch varieties. Sailboats and powerboats are for charter or rent.

Sticking to land? The Ocean Institute will educate you about marine wildlife, with interactive tours and even a gift shop the family will enjoy. The harbor is also home to numerous restaurants and outdoor cafes.

Do you want to go dolphin and whale watching?

You probably didn’t know that Dana Point is the Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World®. Yes, that is a registered trademark.  On top of that, it is the first Whale Heritage Site in the Americas.

Set out with Captain Dave’s on a catamaran holding about 40 people or their smaller zodiac for a faster adventure. We have taken the catamaran several times and love not only the webbed front deck but unique eye-to-eye pods for underwater viewing.

Here’s the scoop. You will always see scores of dolphins any day of the year just minutes off the coast. It is really fun to boat among them as they swim under and around you. Whale watching varies by season. Truth be told, we have had more spectacular whale encounters off Maui, but the experience here does not disappoint.

Do you like outdoor concerts and festivals?

It can be a good idea to time your trip to Dana Point to coincide with their well-known festivals. Of course, there would be a Festival of Whales, a two-weekend celebration of gray whale migration in early March.

Then comes the Doheny Blues Festival and Summer Concerts in the Park, situated in Sea Terrace Park above Salt Creek Beach. The Ohana Festival is another musical event in late September right on Doheny State Beach.

Early September’s Maritime Festival recognizes the tall ships that once sailed into the harbor. A highlight of the long weekend is the mock cannon battles at sea aboard one of a half dozen tall ships of your choice.

Of course, holidays are celebrated in earnest. Fireworks with an ocean backdrop draw visitors for the 4th of July. Thanksgiving morning features the “Turkey Trot,” with 5K and 10K races and more, for a chance to “run the race before you stuff your face.” This is a tradition going on a half-century. Another is the Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights, capping 8 weeks of Christmas lights throughout the town.

Do you want world-class golf?

Monarch Beach Golf Links is one of only a few oceanfront golf courses in California. The dramatic, one-of-a-kind course was designed by master golf architect Robert Trent Jones, with sweeping views of the sea on every hole. It is a Golf Digest “best places to play” and Golf Magazine gold medal winner. Now the best news: the property is open year-round to the public. Pebble Beach might be more famous, but a round will cost you $600. Monarch Beach costs less than $200, even on weekends.

Do you want to stay at a luxury resort?

We have talked about the best Dana Point beaches. The Ritz-Carlton resort sits on a high bluff right above Salt Creek and Dana Strands beaches. The ocean views are breath-taking, and the service is what you would expect from a Ritz-Carlton.

An even better choice, we feel, is the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach & Club. It sits just across the PCH, about a 10-minute walk from the ocean at Salt Creek Beach. And Monarch Beach Golf Links are part of the 175-acre property. Add to that a private Beach Club, accessible only by hotel tram. With a world-class spa and restaurants, you might never leave the property. Years ago, this was a St. Regis, then taken private as the Monarch Beach Resort, and bought in 2020 by Waldorf Astoria. Everything about this AAA Five-Diamond retreat says legendary laid-back beach luxury.

The abundance of riches continues just 3 miles north on the PCH, where you will find the Montage, Laguna Beach, another 5-star resort. If your preference is upscale on a budget, consider Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort, which sits above Dana Point Harbor. The area also has some interesting options from Airbnb if you reserve far enough in advance.

If you venture out to eat, the very walkable town of Dana Point has numerable options for food and drink. One of our favorites is Coastal Kitchen, with indoor/outdoor dining.

North-South-East-West

One of the benefits of using Dana Point as your Southern California base is its mid-point between L.A. and San Diego. Day trips to Hollywood or the San Diego Zoo are manageable. Disneyland is 45 minutes away. The shopping haven, South Coast Plaza, can be reached in 30 minutes. But just 15 minutes away you will find more treasures. Read on.

Go north on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and in a few minutes you will find Laguna Beach, home to Pageant of the Masters, the Sawdust Festival, and countless art galleries. Be sure to check out Pacific Edge Gallery, with the singular works of Maria Bertran. Laguna’s only drawback is its summer popularity.

Go south on PCH and in a few minutes you will be at the famous ocean pier of San Clemente. This Spanish-style city is about to become the surf capital of California, which is saying something.

Go east and in a few minutes you will find the Mission of San Juan Capistrano, built in 1775. A visit there is a must, as is walking the Los Rios Street Historic District, the oldest neighborhood in California. This area has seen American Indians, Spanish missionaries, Mexican independence, and U.S. statehood.

Go west? Yes, even though Dana Point hugs the Pacific Ocean, you can go west. The harbor is the primary departure point for Catalina Island, with the Catalina Express ferry making the 1.5-hour trip. Picturesque and unique, Catalina can be done as a day trip, placing you back in your resort in time for dinner and a good night’s sleep. Catalina is also very busy in the summer.

We have only scratched the surface of things to do in Dana Point. Check out the Headlands or ocean caves and tide pools, for example. Let our readers know your favorites by commenting at the bottom of this post. We will also be happy to answer any questions.